1 Year After Perot

Before I start writing about the title subject of this post I want to write some well deserved words about someone whose courage encourages me. You see today my sister, Peggy, who lives in Pennsylvania, went to the hospital to have knee replacement surgery for the 2nd time. While she discounts that it's anything special to me its an inspiration.

I wasn't there to see her deal with or recover from the first knee operation but I know she had a difficult time to say the least. But she never quit. Last October when she came to attend my son's wedding she was walking around on a brand new knee like she's always had it.

I know from talking with her how badly she wanted to postpone this 2nd operation until...never. But she did what she had to do in order to achieve what she wants so badly: the ability to walk without pain and an overall improvement of the quality of her life. She is now facing the next few months of rehab to get herself to the point of having two good legs again. I know she will be fighting though the pain as she works toward her goal.

As I face the idea of taking drastic action to improve my life by having weight loss surgery I look toward the courage my big sister. She has shown great determination in dealing with the challenge of enduring temporary physical pain for permanent gain in her life. I just want to let her know that her courage gives me courage to step into the life changing action I am going to take later this summer. Thanks Peg. I Love you. You're my inspiration.

Now onto the subject that appears in the post title. It was 1 year ago today that I got a devastating surprise around 10AM in the morning. It was just another day at my job at Perot Systems. Until I got called into a conference room by my boss. I'd been called in before but once I walked into the the conference room I knew that this was different. There were people there who had never been present at one of these meetings before. My boss, Linda, started some sort of obligatory speech that explained that it had been decided by people nearly 1000 miles away in Massachusetts (that's where the bosses of company we worked for were located) that I was being terminated.

My first reaction was emotional frustration. I truly thought I had improved. I thought I had done better. I had tried to do better. But the die was cast and I was escorted out of the building. I didn't know what to do. I had to call Paula and tell her. I was really upset to say the least.

That day was 1 year ago today. As I look back at the time since that fateful day at Perot I can't say anything except that God has been faithful to me and Paula the entire time. He made sure that we didn't suffer financially, through unemployment insurance and several extensions.

He has helped me grow spiritually by learning more about the importance of living a life of obedience and holiness for His glory. He has shown me that a Christian life is being devoted to Christ as Lord and sacrificing my entire life to him; not just giving Him a compartmentalized part of my life.

A large part of that spiritual growth has brought me to a place that, a year ago, I never ever would have thought I would be. I have decided that in obedience to God I must take drastic measures to bring my sin of gluttony under control. I'm looking to literally remove a part of myself in an effort to repent from a sin to which I am captive. That's what's behind my decision to have weight loss surgery.

He has allowed me to grow in my ventriloquism. He has given me gifts of puppets I never would have dreamed I'd ever own. He's given me opportunities to perform at the local library and daycare center, in a pair of small local churches, and in my own church as part Sunday morning worship services and while teaching 4 & 5 year olds during Vacation Bible School.

There's a whole lot more that has happened over this last year. I can truly say that over all my life is better today than it was a year ago. Or at least it's on a better path than it was a year ago. I have grown in so many ways. Yet I still have so much farther to go.

Losing my job at Perot Systems a year ago seemed like a whole lot bigger trial at the time it happened than it does now. But that's hind sight. Through all that has happened I have learned to trust God and have faith that He has my life in His hands. God is at work in my life. The greatest aspect of that work is the continuous application of the gospel completed through the sacrifice and Lordship of, Jesus Christ.

So while I'm taking the time to mark the anniversary of an event in my life I'd have to say there's really only one reason for doing so. It's to look back at where I was, see where I am, and look forward to where God still wants me to go. The journey's only begun. I'll let you know how it's going when I check back with you again sometime...perhaps in another year.